What Exactly Is a Dry Sheet Mask?

Hint: It's not drenched in serum

If it seems like there are a million different sheet masks on the market, you're probably right. There are masks for fighting everything from breakouts to aging skin to hyperpigmentation. They're made of all sorts of materials including cotton, hydrogel and even kelp. Some are basic and some are seriously Instagram-worthy. But the one thing most masks have in common is that they're saturated with serum or essence. After all, packages often boast words like "dripping," "drenched" and "soaked" in a whole bottle of serum.

Turns out, that doesn't apply to every sheet mask. The new breed of dry sheet masks don't prescribe to the "wetter is better" philosophy. If you're wondering how a sheet mask actually works without its characteristic liquid serum, we turned to the experts to find out what the deal is with dry sheet masks.